Appalachia was, and remains, one place where Americans' thoughts go when they have to re-think what it means to be American. Whether it is understood as the First Frontier, the original Old West, or an Eden infested with the snakes of race, class, and violence, Appalachia offers exceedingly fertile ground for popular and scholarly investigation.

Presentations covering a broad range of Appalachian culture are welcome, as are thematic panels composed of three to four presentations. Topics may include:

These are just suggestions, of course; Appalachia is too diverse a region to be shoehorned into the few categories listed above.

Presentations should last from fifteen to twenty minutes. The Popular Culture Association will provide DVD players and televisions; you should arrange to provide other audio-visual equipment. Proposals of around 250 words should be emailed to jdsmith_at_unionky.edu. Include the proposal, along with greetings, questions, personal information, etc. in the body of the email.